Plant retainer for retaining a plant for growth from the side or bottom of a planter

ABSTRACT

A planter for growing a transplantable plant includes a container having a sidewall and a bottom and further includes a retainer member for retaining a plant which has been transplanted within the container through the sidewall or bottom thereof. The retainer member defines an expandable opening which is movable between expanded and normally-collapsed conditions so that by urging a plant root system end-first against the retainer member, the expandable opening is moved to an expanded condition to permit the root system to pass through the expandable opening into the container interior. Upon passage of the root system through the expandable opening, the expandable opening is permitted to return toward its normally-collapsed condition about the stem of the plant to thereby prevent the withdrawal of the root system of the plant from the container interior through the plant retainer.

The benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/123,772, filed Apr.12, 2008 and entitled PLANTER FOR GROWING A PLANT FROM THE SIDE THEREOF,is hereby claimed. The disclosure of this referenced provisional patentapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to gardening accessories and relates,more particularly, to a planter within which plants are transplanted forgrowth.

The type of planter with which this invention is concerned includesthose which are adapted to contain dirt or potting soil and into which atransplantable plant can be transplanted so that the plant continues itsgrowth within the planter.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,171,782, on which I was named as a co-inventor,describes a planter which is adapted to be hung from an overhead supportstructure and into which multiple plants can be transplanted for growthout the sides of the planter. Such a planter is advantageous in that itenables multiple plants to be grown in an elevated condition above theground (and thereby prevent the exposure of the plants, or the fruitthereof, to ground-related problems) without the need for appreciablespace (e.g. ground space) for growing the plants.

It would be desirable to provide an improved planter for growing a plantor multiple plants in an elevated condition above the ground whichembodies alternative means for holding the roots of a plant within theplanter for growth of the stem of the plant out of the planter.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved planter for growing a plant or multiple plants in anelevated condition above the ground.

Another object of the present invention to provide such a planter havinga container within which plants can be grown out the side or bottomthereof and including improved means for retaining the roots of theplants within the container.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a planterwhose grow ports enable plants to be transplanted into the container ofthe planter relatively quickly.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such aplanter which is uncomplicated in structure, yet effective in operation.

One more object of the present invention is to provide a plant retainingmeans which can be utilized in conjunction with a grow port formed in aside or bottom of a planter for retaining a plant within the containerfor growth out of the grow port of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention resides in an improvement for a planter within which atransplantable plant having a stem and a root system is desired to betransplanted for growth and wherein the planter includes a containerdefining a sidewall or a bottom and an interior.

The improvement is characterized in that there is incorporated withinthe container a means for retaining the root system of a plant which hasbeen transplanted within the container. The retaining means defines anexpandable opening which is movable between an expanded condition and anormally-collapsed condition so that by urging a transplantable plantroot system-first against the plant retaining means from the exterior ofthe container, the expandable opening is moved to an expanded conditionfrom its normally-collapsed condition to permit the root system to passthrough the expandable opening into the container interior. Upon passageof the root system of the plant through the expandable opening asaforesaid, the expandable opening is permitted to return toward itsnormally-collapsed condition about the stem of the transplantable plantto thereby prevent the withdrawal of the root system of the plant fromthe container interior through the plant retaining means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a planter within whichfeatures of the present invention are embodied and shown exploded andpartially cut-away.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of a plant capable of beingtransplanted within the FIG. 1 planter for continued growth of theplant.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the side of the FIG. 1 planter assembly.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5-7 are views which illustrate the sequential steps involved intransplanting the plant of FIG. 2 through the planter grow port providedin the bottom of the FIG. 1 planter.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 9-12 are views which illustrate the sequential steps involved intransplanting a plant like that of the FIG. 2 plant through a plantergrow port provided in the side of the FIG. 1 planter.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are side views of alternative embodiments of planterswhich embody features of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side view of a container showing an exemplaryretainer for covering a grow port of the container.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a still another alternative planterwithin which features of the invention are embodied.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a fragment of yet still another planter withinwhich a triangular-shaped retainer member is incorporated.

FIG. 18 is a side view of a fragment of one more planter within which asquare-shaped retainer member is incorporated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings in greater detail and considering first FIG.1, there is illustrated an embodiment, generally indicated 20, of aplanter within which features of the present invention are incorporated.The planter 20 includes a container 22 within which plants aretransplanted for growth and a hanger assembly 24 which facilitates thesuspension of the container 22 above a floor or underlying surface.

The container 22 includes wall means, generally indicated 23, havingsidewalls 44 and a bottom 42 which define a plurality of openings, orgrow ports, through which transplanted plants are permitted to grow.Most of these container openings are provided by side grow ports 26which open out of the sidewalls 44 of the container 22, while onecontainer opening is provided by a bottom grow port 36 which opens outof the container bottom 42. Furthermore, there is associated with eachgrow port 26 or 36 a plant retaining means, generally indicated 18, inthe form of a retainer member 27, described herein, having a body whichis adapted to hold a plant within the container 22 for growth out of theside or bottom of the container 22. In connection with the foregoing,each retainer member 27 is used with a corresponding plant forsupporting the plant for growth out the side or bottom of the container22 through the grow ports 26 or 36.

With reference to FIG. 2, there is illustrated an example of a plant 28which is capable of being transplanted within the container 22 of theplanter 20 for continued growth therein. The depicted plant 28 includesa root system 30 (which commonly is encased in an amount, or ball, ofdirt) and a stem 32 which extends from the root system 30. As will beapparent herein and in order to transplant the plant 28 through one ofthe planter grow ports 26 or 36, described herein, the plant 28 isdirected root system-first into the grow port 26 or 36 until the rootsystem 30 is completely moved through, or clears, the retainer member 27and is positioned within the interior of the container 22. The retainermember 27 thereafter prevents the withdrawal of the root system 30 fromthe grow port 26 or 36 so that the plant 28 is in a secured conditionwithin the grow port 26 or 36 while the plant stem 32 either extendslaterally, or outwardly to the side, of the sidewall of the container 22through a side grow port 26 or extends downwardly of the container 22through the bottom grow port 36. With the plant 28 secured within thecontainer 22 in this manner, the planter 20 accommodates the continuedgrowth of the plant 28 while its stem 32 extends through the side growport 26 or the bottom grow port 36.

With reference again to FIG. 1, the container 22 is in the form of anelongate bag 40 constructed, for example, of a flexible plastic materialwhose bottom and sidewalls provide the bottom 42 and sidewalls 44 of thecontainer 22 and which, when filled with dirt or potting soil to theexpanded condition, as depicted in FIG. 1, provides the bag 40 with asubstantially cylindrical form. To help preserve the cylindrical form ofthe bag 40 when filled with dirt or potting soil, a stiff, circularplate 46 (FIG. 1) having a center opening 47 can be positioned withinthe bottom 42 of the bag 40 so that the center opening 47 is alignedwith the bottom grow port 36. Defined along the sidewalls 44 are aplurality of circular openings 48 (FIG. 3) which provide the side growports 26 and which provide access to the interior of the bag 40 throughthe sidewalls 44 thereof, and there is defined within the bottom 42 acircular opening 49 (FIG. 1) which provides the bottom grow port 36which provides access to the interior of the bag 40 through the bottom42 thereof.

Within the bag 40 of the depicted container 22, there are definedtwenty-one sidewall openings, or side grow ports 26, which are regularlydisposed about the bag sidewalls 44 and there is defined one bottomopening, or bottom grow port 36 disposed centrally therein. It will beunderstood, however, that a planter which embodies features of thepresent invention can include an alternative number of side or bottomgrow ports 26 or 36.

Furthermore, it will also be understood that although the depictedcontainer 22 has substantially vertically-disposed sidewalls 44 withinwhich the grow ports 21 are positioned and a horizontally-disposedbottom within which the grow port 26 is positioned, a grow port inaccordance with the broader aspects of this invention can beincorporated within a sidewall of a container which is notvertically-oriented or in a bottom which is not horizontally-oriented.Accordingly and as used herein, the terms “side”, “sidewall” and“bottom” of a container are intended to include every surface of acontainer in which a grow port which possesses the features describedherein can be incorporated, and the principles of this invention can bevariously applied.

As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, there is associated with each growport 26 or 36 a retainer member 27 whose body has been attached (e.g.sewn) to the sidewalls 44 or bottom 42 so as to substantially cover agrow port 26 or 36 defined therein. To this end and as exemplified inthe FIG. 3 view, each retainer member 27 is comprised of a relativelyflat piece 54 of resiliently flexible material having a circularperiphery, or outer (i.e. circumferential) edge, 57 and the retainermember 27 is attached (e.g. sewn) to the sidewalls 44 or bottom 42 withstitches 50 which extend along a path adjacent the circular periphery 57of the member 27. Furthermore, each retainer member 27 is secured to thecontainer 22 about a corresponding grow port 26 or 36 so that one side,or the interior side, face of the retainer member 27 faces the interiorof the container 22 while the opposite side, or the exterior side, faceof the retainer member 27 faces exterior of the container 22.

Moreover and as will be apparent herein, each retainer member 27 definesan expandable opening, indicated 19 in FIG. 3, which is adapted to bemoved between an expanded condition and a normally-collapsed conditionso that by urging a transplantable plant 28 root system-first againstthe plant retainer member 27 from the exterior of the container 22, theexpandable opening 19 is moved to an expanded condition from anormally-collapsed condition to permit the plant root system 30 to passthrough the expandable opening 19 into the container interior and sothat upon passage of the root system 30 through the expandable opening19, the expandable opening is permitted to return toward itsnormally-collapsed condition about the stem 32 of the transplantableplant 28 to thereby prevent the withdrawal of the root system 30 of theplant 28 through the plant retainer member 27 from the containerinterior.

Within the depicted planter 20, each retainer member 27 includes aperipheral portion 51 disposed adjacent the periphery 57 of the retainermember 27 and plurality of finger portions 52 which are integrallyjoined with and extend inwardly (e.g. radially-inwardly) of theperipheral portion 51 of the retaining member 27 to a tip 59. As bestshown in FIG. 3, each finger portion 52 is in the form of a elongated,wedge-shaped section having a larger end which is disposed adjacent theperipheral portion 51 and a smaller end, or tip, disposed adjacent thecenter of the member 27 and opposite side edges which converge towardone another as a path is traced from the larger end of the fingerportion 52 toward the smaller end thereof.

The material out of which the retainer member 27 is formed is preferablya plastic material, such as a thin vinyl material, and the member 27 issevered along substantially straight paths 56 (see FIG. 3) to provideeach finger portion 52 with a substantially V or wedge-shapedappearance. Each finger portion 52 includes a free, or unattached, endsection 58 which, because of its flexible nature, can be flexed inwardlyof the bag 40 from an undeformed (i.e. unflexed), planar condition (asis illustrated, for example, in solid lines in FIGS. 4 and 8) to aflexed condition (as is illustrated, for example, in phantom in FIGS. 4and 8) and is permitted to return from its flexed condition, under theinfluence of its inherent resiliency, toward its undeformed condition.Each retainer member 27 of the depicted planter 20 is provided by eightfinger portions 52, although an alternative number of finger portions 52(e.g. three) can be had, and each end section 58 terminates at the tip59 (rounded in shape) adjacent the center of the retainer member 27.

It follows, therefore, that the finger portions 52 collectively providethe expandable opening 19 for the member 27 which is substantiallyclosed when the finger portions 56 are in their undeformed (i.e.unflexed), planar condition (as is illustrated, for example, in solidlines in FIGS. 4 and 8) and is expandable to provide a substantiallylarger opening as the finger portions 56 are urged (i.e. moved) from theplanar, or unflexed, condition to the flexed condition (as isillustrated, for example, in phantom in FIGS. 4 and 8). Furthermore anddue to the inherent resiliency of the retainer member 27, the fingermembers 56 are continually biased from the flexed condition toward theunflexed condition.

With reference again to FIG. 1, the planter 20 further includes meansfor cooperating with the hanger assembly 24 with which the container 22can be suspended from an elevated support so that the planter 20 isrendered as a hanging planter. To this end, the container 22 includes anupper ring 62 which is sewn into the upper edge of the bag 40, and thebag 40 has a plurality of (e.g. three) notches 80 which are spaced aboutthe upper end of the container 22 which provide access to the ring 62.The hanger assembly 24 is attachable to the ring 62 of the container 22by way of the notches 80 for suspension of the container 22 from anelevated support (not shown). In this connection, the hanger assembly 24includes a plurality of (e.g. three) cable members 84 which are joinedtogether at one end thereof (i.e. the upper end as seen in FIG. 1) byway of a ring-bearing swivel 86 which is adapted to be be looped about ahook (not shown) or similar fastener joined to the elevated support forsuspension of the container 22 therefrom. To attach the ends of thecable members 84 (i.e. the cable ends opposite the swivel end thereof)to the container 22, each cable end is passed through a correspondingnotch 80, looped around the ring 62 and then attached to itself with aclamp 88. With the cable members 84 attached to the ring 62 in thismanner, the container bag 40 can be suspended by the cable members 84and swivel 86.

The planter 20 also includes a decorative rim member 92, best shown inFIG. 1, which is positionable atop the container 22 and which supports atop member 94. The rim member 92 is formed in the shape of a ring and isadapted to rest along the upper edge of the container 22 as the planter20 is suspended from an elevated support. In the depicted planter 20,the cable members 84 of the cable system 82 are intended to pass throughpreformed holes 96 provided in the top of the rim member 92 to helpsecure the rim member 92 in place atop the container 22 during use ofthe planter 20. In this connection, the ends of the cable members 84(i.e. the cable member ends opposite the swivel-end) are each routedthrough a corresponding preformed hole 96 before being attached to thering 62 sewn within the bag 40 for attachment thereto.

The top member 94, introduced above, of the planter 20 serves as a coverfor the bag 40 and provides an access port through which water andfertilizer (i.e. liquid or granular) can be introduced into the top ofthe container 22. In this connection, the top member 94 includes acentral, funnel-shaped section 98 for funneling water and fertilizerpoured downwardly to a central opening 99. Furthermore, the top member94 includes an outer edge 100 which can be accepted by the interior ofthe rim member 92 for support of the top member 96 atop the rim member92.

It will be understood that water or fertilizer which is desired to bedirected into the planter 20 for the purposes of watering and feedingthe plants grown within the container 22 is poured into thefunnel-shaped section 98 of the top member 94 and is thereafterpermitted to flow downwardly into the dirt or potting soil containedwithin the container 22 by way of the central opening 99 of the topmember 94.

To transplant a plant 28 into the bottom grow port 36 of the planter 20,a plant 28 is grasped by the stem 32 (as illustrated in FIG. 5) anddirected root-end-first upwardly through the center of the grow port 36until the root system 30 moves past and thereby clears the tips 59 ofthe end sections 58 of the finger portions 52 of the retainer member 27associated with the grow port 36. It will be understood that as the rootsystem 30 of the plant 28 is urged against the finger portions 52, thefinger portions 52 or, more specifically, the end sections 58 thereof,are permitted to flex inwardly of the container 22 (from the FIG. 4unflexed condition) to expand the size of the expandable opening 19 andto thereby accommodate the movement, or passage, of the root system 30into the container interior.

After the root system 30 of the plant 28 is moved far enough into theinterior of the bag 40 (i.e. past the tips 59), the finger portions 52(due to the inherent resiliency of the finger portions 52) are permittedto spring back toward the relaxed, or unflexed, condition, asillustrated in FIG. 7, at which the tips 59 of the finger portions 52are permitted to contact and bear against the stem 32 of the plant 28.With the finger portions 52 in contact with the plant stem 32 asdepicted in the FIG. 7 condition, the finger portions 52 are arcuate inshape, rather than perfectly flat, as a path is traced radiallyoutwardly along the finger portions 52 from the tips 59 thereof.

If desired and following the return of the finger portions 52 toward theFIG. 7 condition, it may be desirable that the stem 32 be pulledoutwardly of the container 22 a short distance to move the root system30 closer to, or even into contact with, the inwardly-facing sides ofthe finger portions 52 and to thereby position most of the plant stem 32external of the container 22. If such a movement of the stem 32 isdesired, it may be necessary to manually spread the finger portions 52apart (to thereby relieve pressure upon the plant stem 32 by the tips59) and manually pull the stem 32 outwardly through the grow port 36 bya short distance to a desired position of rest before releasing thefinger portions 52 from the spread-apart condition. Because the tips 59of the finger portions 52 are rounded, no damage to the plant 28 islikely to result as a consequence of the contact between the tips 59 ofthe finger portions 52 and the stem 32.

With the finger portions 52 positioned about and in contact with theplant stem 32 when in the arcuate condition illustrated in FIG. 7, thefinger portions 56 resist further movement of the tips 59 toward theplanar condition of FIG. 4. Such a resistance to movement of the rootsystem 30 out of the container interior through the retainer 27 isbelieved to be due, at least in part, to the fact that forces which mustbe exerted upon the plant 28 to urge the root system 30 outwardlythrough the retainer member 27 are exerted upon the finger portions 52(by way of the root system 30 or stem 32) as forces which tend tocompress the finger portions 52 along the length thereof (i.e. radiallyoutwardly along the finger portions 52 from the tips 59 thereof).

In other words and although the finger portions 52 can be moved (i.e.flexed) with relative ease from the FIG. 4 planar condition toward theFIG. 6 solid-line condition during which forces are urged along pathswhich are substantially normal to the exterior face of the retainermember 27, forces which tend to compress the finger portions 52 alongthe length thereof (i.e. in a radially-outward direction from the tips59 thereof) are resisted by the finger members 52. Consequently andbecause the finger members 52 resist forces of a compressive naturewhich would be required to move the finger members 52 from the FIG. 7arcuate condition toward (and past) the perfectly flat conditiondepicted in solid lines of FIG. 4, the finger members 52 resist thewithdrawal of the plant root system 30 through the retainer member 27from the container interior and thereby hold the plant 28 in placethrough the bottom grow port 36 with little likelihood that the plant 28will fall out of the port 36. Thus, the retainer member 27 operates topermit the plant root system 30 to be passed with relative ease in onedirection through the retainer member 27 (i.e. from the exterior of thecontainer 22 to the interior thereof) but, upon passage of the rootsystem 20 through the retainer member 27 into the container interior,resists the withdrawal of the root system 27 out of the containerinterior through the retainer member 27.

Once the plant 28 is positioned in place within the grow port 36 asaforedescribed, dirt or suitable potting soil, indicated 120 in FIG. 7,can be thereafter placed into the container 22 and positioned (e.g.loosely packed) about the root system 30 of the plant 28 (as illustratedin FIG. 7) so that the added dirt or potting soil 120 is positionedabout, and thereafter contributes further to the support of the plant 28within the container 22.

With reference to FIGS. 9 to 12 and to transplant a fplant 28 a (whosestem 32 a and root system 30 a are identical with the stem 32 and rootsystem 30, respectively, of the plant 28 of FIG. 2) into a side growport 26 of the planter 20, dirt or suitable potting soil, indicated 120in FIG. 9, is placed within the container 22 of the planter 20 until thehorizontal level of the dirt or potting soil placed within the planter20 reaches to about the horizontal level of the lower edge of a sidegrow port 26. It follows that if a plant 28 a is desired to betransplanted through each side grow port 26 of the planter 20, then thedirt or potting soil 120 is first placed within the container 22 onlyuntil it reaches to about the level of the lower edge of the lowermostside grow port 26. At that point, a plant 28 a is grasped by the stem 32(as illustrated in FIG. 9) and directed root-end-first through thecenter of the lowermost side grow port 26 until the root system 30 aclears the tips 59 of the finger portions 52 of the retainer member 27surrounding the side opening associated with the side grow port 26. Itwill be understood that as the root system 30 a of the plant 28 a isurged against the finger portions 52, the finger portions 52 arepermitted to flex inwardly of the container 22 to accommodate thepassage of the root system 30 a through the expanded opening 19 of theretainer member 27. After the root system 30 of the plant 28 moves farenough into the interior of the bag 40 to clear the tips 59 of thefinger portions 52, the finger portions 52 are permitted to spring backtoward the relaxed, or unflexed, condition, as illustrated in FIG. 11,at which the tips 59 of the finger portions 52 are permitted to contactand bear against the stem 32 a of the plant 28 a. Because the tips 59 ofthe finger portions 52 are rounded, no damage is likely to result to theplant 28 a from its contact with the tips 58 of the finger portions 52.

The aforediscussed reasons that the finger portions 52 resist withdrawalof the plant root system 30 through the bottom grow port 36 apply to theside grow ports 26 as well. In other words and as best viewed in FIG.11, with the finger portions 52 positioned about and in contact with theplant stem 32, the finger portions 52 assume an arcuate condition sothat any forces which might be exerted upon the plant 28 a to urge theroot system 30 a outwardly through the retainer member opening 19 tendto compress the finger portions 52 (by way of the root system 30 a orstem 32 a) along the length thereof (i.e. radially outwardly along thefinger portions 52 from the tips 59 thereof). Consequently and becausethe finger members 52 resist forces of a compressive nature which wouldbe required to move the finger members 52 from the FIG. 11 arcuatecondition toward (and past) the perfectly flat condition depicted inFIG. 8, the finger members 52 resist the withdrawal of the plant rootsystem 30 a from the container interior through a side grow port 26 andthereby hold the plant 28 a in place through the side grow port 36.

Once the plant 28 a is held in place through the grow port 26, the usercan release the stem 32 a of the plant 28 a and the container 22 cancontinue to be filled with dirt or suitable potting soil. Morespecifically, dirt or suitable potting soil 120 can thereafter be placedinto the container 22 (as illustrated in FIG. 12) and positioned aboutthe root system 30 a of the plant 28 a so that the added dirt or pottingsoil 120 contributes further to the support of the plant 28 a within thecontainer 22. The aforedescribed steps of placing dirt or potting soil120 into the container 22 to about the (horizontal) level of thenext-highest side grow port 26, directing a plant 28 a root-end-firstthrough the grow port 26 so that the finger portions 52 hold the plant28 within the grow port 26, and then placing dirt or potting soil 120around the root system 30 a of the plant 28 a being transplanted arerepeated, as necessary or as desired, until a plant 28 a is positionedwithin each side grow port 26 for growth out of the sides of thecontainer 22. Additional potting soil 120 can thereafter be positionedwithin the interior of the container 22 to fill any vacant spaceremaining therein.

As a retained plant is permitted to grow within its container and itsstem increases in diameter, the tips 59 of the fingers portions 52 arepermitted to flex outwardly to accommodate the increase in size of theplant stem. Thus, the plant retaining means 18 associated with theaforedescribed grow ports 26 or 36 is not believed to retard or harm thegrowth of the plant as, for example, its stem enlarges, and the plantretaining means 18 is further advantageous in this respect.

It will be understood that numerous modifications and substitutions canbe had to the aforedescribed embodiment 20 without departing from thespirit of the invention. For example, although the aforedescribedplanter 20 has been shown and described as including grow ports 26, 36in the sidewalls and bottom of the container 22, it will be understoodthat alternative embodiments of this invention may include grow ports inonly the sidewalls thereof or may include grow ports in only the bottomthereof. Furthermore, there are illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14alternative embodiments of containers of various shapes and sizes andwhich incorporate features of the present invention. In particular,there is depicted in FIG. 13 a container 140 having eight grow ports 142(only four shown in FIG. 13) defined in the sidewalls thereof whereinthe grow ports 142 are arranged in two rows around the container 140,and each grow port 142 of the top row is vertically disposed above agrow port 142 of the bottom row. Furthermore, there is depicted in FIG.14, a container 150 having eight grow ports 152 (only four shown in FIG.14) defined in the sidewalls thereof wherein the grow ports 152 arearranged in two rows around the container 140, and each grow port 152 ofthe top row is vertically staggered with respect to the grow ports 152of the bottom port 152.

Still further and by way of example, there is illustrated in FIG. 15 analternative container 220 embodying features of the present inventionand including a grow port 226 having a diameter of about 3.0 inches anda circular retainer member 227 associated with, or covering, the growport 226. The retainer member 227 includes eight finger portions 252regularly spaced therearound, and each finger portion 252 is spaced fromits adjacent finger portion 252 by a gap 230 having a width of about0.105 inches. The overall diameter of the retainer member 227 is about3.75 inches, and each gap 230 as measured across the retainer 227 isabout 3.212 inches in length. In addition, the central opening of theretainer member 227 as defined between the tips 259 of the fingerportions 252 (when in a relaxed, or unflexed, condition), is about 0.727inches in diameter. Still further, the retainer member 227 is comprisedof Vinyl and has a thickness of about 0.025 inches. It will beunderstood, however, that retainer members of alternative sizes (i.e.having a diameter, for example, between about one inches and about fiveinches) can be had.

Further still, although the retainer members 27 of the aforedescribedembodiments have been shown and described as being formed fromrelatively thin pieces of sheet material, the retainer members may takealternative forms. For example, a retainer member in accordance withthis invention can be formed as a molded element which provides theretainer member with a substantial thickness.

Yet still further, although the retainer members 27 of theaforedescribed embodiments have been shown and described asseparately-identifiable components which have been joined to thecontainer of a planter so as to substantially cover the grow portsprovided therein, a retainer member in accordance with the broaderinterests of the present invention can be integrally formed as part ofthe container. For example, there is illustrated in FIG. 16 a planter320 having a container 322 provided with a bottom 342 and sidewalls 344,and there are associated with the sidewalls 344 plant retainingsections, indicated 327, wherein each section 327 provides both a sidegrow port and an expandable opening 319 through which a plant can betransplanted into the container 322.

In the FIG. 16 embodiment 320, each retaining section 327 isincorporated within the sidewalls 344 of the container 322 and includesa plurality of wedge-shaped finger portions 352 having small ends, ortips, which extend inwardly (e.g. radially inwardly) of the retainingsection 327 from an outer periphery of the retaining section 322. Thematerial comprising the sidewalls 344 provides the finger portions 352with a sufficient degree of resiliency and flexibility so that by urginga plant root-system first against the center of a retaining section 322from the exterior of the container 322, the finger portions 352 whichdefine the expandable opening 319 are splayed, or moved, to a flexedcondition from a normally-collapsed (e.g. planar) condition to permitthe root system to pass through the expandable opening 319 into thecontainer interior and so that upon passage of the root system throughthe expandable opening 319, the flexed finger portions 352 are permittedto return toward the normally-collapsed condition about the stem of thetransplantable plant to thereby prevent the withdrawal of the rootsystem of the plant through the retaining section 327 from the containerinterior.

Moreover and although each retainer member 27 of the aforedescribedembodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3-12 has been shown and described as having acircular outer edge, retainer members can take any of a number ofalternative shapes in accordance with the broader aspects of the presentinvention. For example, there is illustrated in FIG. 17 atriangular-shaped retainer member 350 which can be attached to asidewall or bottom of a container 352 so as to substantially cover atriangular-shaped grow port 356 provided therein, and there isillustrated in FIG. 18 a square-shaped retainer member 360 which can beattached to a sidewall or bottom of a container 362 so as tosubstantially cover a square-shaped grow port 366 provided therein. Inthe retainer member 350 of the FIG. 17 embodiment, there are providedthree finger members 358 whose tips are directed inwardly of the member350 from the three side edges thereof, and in the retainer member 360 ofthe FIG. 18 embodiment, there are provided four finger members 368 whosetips are directed inwardly of the member 360 from the four side edgesthereof.

Accordingly, the aforedescribed embodiments are intended for the purposeof illustration and not as limitation.

1. In a planter in which a transplantable plant having a stem and a rootsystem is desired to be transplanted for growth and wherein the planterincludes a container defining a sidewall or a bottom and an interior,the improvement characterized in that: there is incorporated within thesidewall or the bottom of the container a means for retaining the rootsystem of a plant which has been transplanted within the container, theretaining means defining an expandable opening which is movable betweenan expanded condition and a normally-collapsed condition so that byurging a transplantable plant root system-first against the plantretaining means from the exterior of the container, the expandableopening is moved to an expanded condition from its normally-collapsedcondition to permit the root system to pass through the expandableopening into the container interior and so that upon passage of the rootsystem through the expandable opening, the expandable opening ispermitted to return toward its normally-collapsed condition about thestem of the transplantable plant to thereby prevent the withdrawal ofthe root system of the plant through the plant retaining means from thecontainer interior.
 2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein theexpandable opening is defined by a body of resiliently flexible materialhaving portions which are movable between an unflexed condition at whichthe expandable opening is substantially closed and a flexed condition atwhich the expandable opening is in a condition so as to permit the rootsystem of the plant pass through the expandable opening.
 3. Theimprovement as defined in claim 2 wherein the expandable opening has anaxis along which the root system is permitted to travel as it is urgedagainst the body of resiliently flexible material and wherein themovable portions of the body of resiliently flexible material areprovided by finger portions having tips which are biased toward theunflexed condition and which are adapted to be flexed axially of theexpandable opening when the root system is urged against the fingerportions of the resiliently flexible material.
 4. The improvement asdefined in claim 3 wherein the finger portions are adapted to move intocontact with the stem of the plant after the plant root system haspassed through the expandable opening in a manner which resists thewithdrawal of the root system through the expandable opening.
 5. Theimprovement as defined in claim 4 wherein the finger portions arearranged substantially in a planar arrangement when in the unflexedcondition and which are configured so that after the plant root systemhas passed through the expandable opening and the finger portions arepermitted to return toward the unflexed condition, the finger portionsmove into contact with the stem of the plant and are thereby preventedfrom returning to the planar arrangement of the unflexed condition.
 6. Aplanter for growing a transplantable plant having a root system and astem which extends from the root system, the planter comprising: acontainer defining a sidewall or a bottom and an interior, and thesidewall or the bottom having a grow port defining an opening therein;and a plant retaining means associated with the grow port of thecontainer for retaining a plant desired to be transplanted within thecontainer through the grow port, the retaining means including aplurality of finger portions which are biased substantially inwardly ofthe grow port toward an unflexed condition and are adapted to be flexedto a flexed condition which permits the root system of a plant desiredto be transplanted within the planter to be inserted through the growport as the plant root system is urged against the finger portions fromthe exterior of the container and, after passage of the plant rootsystem through the plant retaining means, are permitted to return towardthe unflexed condition about the stem of the plant to prevent thewithdrawal of the root system from the container interior through thegrow port.
 7. The planter as defined in claim 6 wherein each of thefinger portions have tips which are directed substantially inwardly ofthe grow port and the finger portions are resilient in nature to permitthe tips to be moved from a unflexed condition at which the tips of thefinger portions are substantially co-planar with one another and aflexed condition at which the tips of the finger portions are disposedat least partly within the interior of the container to accommodate theinsertion of the root system of the plant into the container through thegrow port as the finger portions are permitted to flex between theunflexed and flexed condition and so that upon movement of the plantroot system past the tips of the finger portions during insertion of theplant root system into the container through the grow port, the fingerportions are permitted to return toward the unflexed condition.
 8. Theplanter as defined in claim 7 wherein each of the finger portions isrelatively flat when in its unflexed condition and has side edges whichconverge toward one another as a path is traced toward the tip of thefinger portion.
 9. The planter as defined in claim 8 wherein the tip ofeach finger portion is rounded to reduce the likelihood of damage to theplant stem when contacted by the tips of the finger portions.
 10. Theplanter as defined in claim 6 wherein the plant retaining means includesat least three finger portions.
 11. The planter as defined in claim 6wherein the plant retaining means includes a piece of resilient sheetmaterial having an outer circumferential edge and which is joined to thesidewall or the bottom so as to substantially surround the grow portopening defined therein, and each of the finger portions is provided bysections of the sheet material.
 12. The planter as defined in claim 11wherein the sheet material is joined to the sidewall or bottom of thecontainer with stitches which extend along the outer circumferentialedge of the sheet material.
 13. The planter as defined in claim 6wherein the container has a sidewall and the grow port is defined in asidewall of the container.
 14. The planter as defined in claim 6 whereinthe container has a bottom and the grow port is defined in the bottom ofthe container.
 15. The planter as defined in claim 6 wherein the plantretaining means is a first plant retaining means, the grow port is afirst grow port and the container includes a second grow port having anopening defined in the sidewall or the bottom of the container, and theplanter further includes a second plant retaining means associated withthe second grow port for retaining a plant desired to be transplantedwithin the container through the second grow port, the second plantretaining means including a plurality of finger portions which arebiased substantially inwardly of the second grow port and are adapted tobe flexed to a condition which permits the root system of a plantdesired to be transplanted within the planter through the second growport as the plant root system is urged thereagainst from the exterior ofthe container and which, upon passage of the plant root system throughthe second plant retaining means, returns toward the unflexed conditionabout the stem of the plant to prevent the withdrawal of the root systemfrom the container interior through the second grow port.
 16. A planterfor growing a transplantable plant having a root system and a stem whichextends from the root system, the planter comprising: a container havingan interior, an upper end, a lower end, and a sidewall extending betweenthe upper and lower ends, and a bottom, at least one of the sidewall andthe bottom defining a grow port opening therein; and a retainer memberfor retaining a plant desired to be transplanted within the containerthrough the grow port, the retainer member including a piece ofresiliently flexible sheet material having an outer circumferential edgeand being joined to the at least one of the sidewall and the bottom soas to substantially cover the grow port opening defined therein, and theretainer member further includes finger portions which are directedsubstantially inwardly of the outer edge of the piece of sheet materialand which permit the root system of a plant desired to be transplantedwithin the planter to be inserted through the grow port opening yetprevent the withdrawal of the root system from the container interiorthrough the grow port opening so that the plant is thereby supportedwithin the container for growth of the plant stem outwardly of thecontainer through the grow port.
 17. The planter as defined in claim 16wherein the outer circumferential edge of the piece of sheet materialsurrounds the grow port opening, and each of the finger portions havetips which are biased substantially inwardly of the outercircumferential edge of the piece of sheet material, and the flexibilityof the finger portions permit the finger portions to be moved from aunflexed condition at which the tips of the finger portions aresubstantially co-planar with one another and a flexed condition at whichthe tips of the finger portions are disposed at least partly within theinterior of the container to accommodate the insertion of the rootsystem of the plant into the container through the grow port as thefinger portions are permitted to flex between the unflexed and flexedcondition and so that upon movement of the plant root system past thetips of the finger portions during insertion of the plant root systeminto the container through the grow port opening, the finger portionsare permitted to return toward the unflexed condition and into contactwith the stem of the plant.
 18. The planter as defined in claim 17wherein each of the finger portions is relatively flat when in itsunflexed condition and has side edges which converge toward one anotheras a path is traced toward the tip of the finger portion.
 19. Theplanter as defined in claim 17 wherein the finger portions are regularlyspaced about the outer circumferential edge of the piece of sheetmaterial.
 20. A plant retainer for a planter in which a transplantableplant having a stem and a root system is desired to be transplanted forgrowth and wherein the planter includes a container defining a sidewalland a bottom and an interior and wherein at least one of the sidewalland the bottom has a grow port defining an opening therein, the plantretainer comprising: a plant retaining body which is attachable to theplanter so as to substantially cover the grow port opening definedtherein and having an expandable opening which is movable between anexpanded condition and a normally-collapsed condition so that by urginga transplantable plant root system-first against the plant retainingbody from the exterior of the container, the expandable opening is movedto an expanded condition from its normally-collapsed condition to permitthe root system to pass through the expandable opening into thecontainer interior and so that upon passage of the root system throughthe expandable opening, the expandable opening is permitted to returntoward its normally-collapsed condition about the stem of thetransplantable plant to thereby prevent the withdrawal of the rootsystem of the plant through the plant retaining body from the containerinterior.